DC Shadow Senators: What Do They Actually Do?

TPO's ⁠2026 Midterms Guide⁠

The Pour Over is a Christ-first, politically neutral news podcast. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we cover the day's biggest stories in ~10 minutes, and pair the biggest headlines with brief biblical reminders. Every Saturday, TPO Explains does a shallow dive into your most-asked questions. Today's episode: DC Shadow Senators: What Do They Actually Do?

Washington, DC, elects senators who can't vote, don't have seats in Congress, and aren't paid. So what does a DC shadow senator actually do? In this TPO Explains episode, we cover what a shadow delegation is, how it differs from DC's non-voting delegate in the House, where the "shadow" name came from, and why DC statehood is at the center of the role.

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